Toy bowling-alley.



INo. 706,925, Patented Aug. I2, |9112.

F. W. GIBSUN. I TOY BOWLING ALLEY.

(Application filed June 5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

MHIIH" JZ, fwfzwla MZ FRANK w. GIBSON, or sT. Louis, MISSOURI.'

TOY BOWLING-ALLEY SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,925, dated August 12, 1902.

Application filed June 5, 1901.

T0 n/ZZ whom it rn/(ty concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. GinsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toy Bowling-Alleys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a toy bowling-alley, and has for its object to provide a strong, portable, and inexpensive device which can be folded for stowage and shipment.

The invention consists in features of novelty, as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Whereonl Figure 1 is a top plan of my improved toy bowling-alley; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section through the alley on line 3 3 in Fig. l; and Fig. 4, a transverse section thereof, to enlarged scale, on line 4 4in Fig. l.

Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

A represents my improved toy bowling-alley, which is composed of the alley-bed c, the side gutters b, back-stop c, and pit d, as in an ordinary bowling-alley, all the said parts being secured together by nails, screws, glue, or otherwise, so as to form a single portable piece. For insuring lightness and strength with cheapness of construction the bed a is preferably composed of a single board, and gutters ZJ are made U-shaped in cross-section, preferably of Wood, and secured by their inner legs 1 to the alley-bed a. on its under side by nails 2, Fig. 4, or other fastenings, so that the side edges of the bed c are iiush with the inner faces of the legs l, as shown, whereby the gutters b serve as stiffening-ribs to the bed @without the use of Stitfening-fillers or cross-pieces, as would otherwise be needed. By this construction also the bed a, can be made of less thickness and considerably lighter than if the side gutters l) were not attached thereto in the manner described to prevent its warping.

Across the front end portion of the bed ct is arranged an extension or starting board f, corresponding preferably in width to the bed a and having at one end on its side edges a Serial No. 63,225. (No model.)

projecting pintle oraxis 3 3', which is alined semicircu mferentially to the correspondinglyshaped edge of the saidend of the board f and by which the extension-board f is preferably hinged over and in close proximity to the alley-bed ct in two opposite bearings and blocks g g, which are secured to the sides of the alley. By this means the extension-board f can be adjustedon its hinge 3 3 to any desired inclination with the bed a, the space or gap between thehinged end of the board f and the bed o. remaining the same at whateverinclination to the bed a the board f may be placed.

The tenpins c being placed .in position on the bed c in the usual well-known manner, as shown, and the ball x at the highest or any desired point on the extension-board f, on releasing the ball .fr it Will descend the extension-board f by gravity with a uniformly-accelerated velocity, and owing to the absence of jar or vibration of the alley caused when operating the spring devices now used for propelling the balls in this class of alley the initial direction of the ball no on its reaching and traveling Aalong the bed ct will be maintained and the opportunity for exercising skill in releasing the ball a: thereby increased. Another advantage of the extension-board f is that it practically lengthens the alley and when not in use can be folded back onto the bed a, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby rendering the alley compact for the purpose of stowage and shipment.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to-secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a toy bowling-alley, a bed composed of a single board and having side gutters fixed thereto on its under side, the said gutters being U- shaped in cross-section andhaving their inner legs iiush with the side edges of the bed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK w. GIBSON.

W'itnesses:

EDWARD W. FURRELL, Guo. L. BELFRY. 

